Email address: [email protected]
© SAIGA Tours
Start
Oct 27, 2026
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2026-10-27
End
Nov 20, 2026
Kabul
Kabul
2026-11-20
Duration
25 days
Price
US$5195.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
This tour is an exciting one in many ways - an epic and very unusual land border, three completely unreal countries, and a vast and unforgettable journey exploring each one of them.
Starting this adventure in Ashgabat, the white and gold capital city, famous for its magnificent monuments and wide, empty streets, we'll venture into the desert for a night sleeping in a yurt next to the Gates of Hell. We'll spend a day gawking at the yellow and pink striped walls of Yangykala Canyon. We'll stop in obscure little Turkmen towns and villages along the way, swim in an underground cave lake, and see a cemetery where all the graves have goat horns above them.
We'll then fly down to Pakistan's bustling cosmopolitan capital of Islamabad to begin our adventure through our second country. We'll experience the chaotic unbridled fanfare of the Wagah border crossing and the charm of Lahore, before the true highlight for intrepid individuals - the opportunity to cross the highly contested Torkham border, following in the footsteps of great conquerors and empires through the Khyber pass. You'll continue on to Afghanistan where you'll get to experience this ever changing country as it grapples with new realities.
As villages prepare for winter and cities buzz with year-end activity, we follow the samehistoric route through Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Samangan and Bamiyan – but see it through autumn’s revealing light.
Meet farmers bringing in late harvests, share warming cups of chai in ancient caravanserais, and witness Band-e-Amir’s lakes in their most reflective state. The Parwana Childrens' Circus’ seasonal performance becomes even more poignant against November’s fading light.
A journey for those who want to see beyond the postcard views – this is Afghanistan preparing for winter, full of quiet moments and unexpected warmth.
As it is the proper season we might also get the chance to see a traditional buzkashi match!
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As part of our work in Afghanistan, we support the Parwana Children's Circus and the great work that they do. We visit them on every tour, and SAIGA Tours donates a portion of our tour sales each time we visit. To learn more about the amazing work Parwana does, you can read here . |
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included |
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Transport, beginning and ending in Kabul |
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Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary |
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Visa support |
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Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $
What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fee |
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Meals other than breakfast |
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Transport to and from Kabul |
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Accommodation and any other services before or after the tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
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Tips |
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Any additional flights needed in Afghanistan that may be necessary due to security concerns |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Experience the chaos of Kabul
See first hand how life is for ordinary Afghanis under the Taliban
Fall in love with the amazing landscapes and scenery
Itinerary
Day 1Tue Oct 27
Ashgabat
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Our first day in Ashgabat, you’re going to be in awe of everything that the capital has to offer. We’ll spend the day taking in all the main sites of Ashgabat, including all those crazy monuments you’ve probably seen pictures of, as we begin explaining all the weird and wonderful aspects of Turkmenistan that make it such a special place.
- We’ll start with a driving tour of Ashgabat's main sites, including Independence Park and Independence Monument, the Monument to the Constitution, the Arch of Neutrality, Lenin Park, and a drive-by of the Olympic Complex which was built for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The complex is home to the famous Horse Stadium ( the largest structure in the shape of a horse in the world – you’ll hear plenty more of these records! ), but unfortunately is closed to the public.
- A highlight of the day will likely be the Alem Centre, the complex which houses the Wheel of Enlightenment, the largest indoor ferris wheel (yes, there’s another one). And YES, for just $2.50, you can even take a ride!
- Stop for lunch at Berkarar Shopping Centre, where you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a hipster café – bet you weren’t expecting that!
- In the afternoon we’ll visit the university bookshop, a great chance to pick up some very cool, unique Turkmenistan swag, including where you can find amazing coffee table books written by and about the former president (and father of the current president, Serdar Berdimuhamedov), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as ones about Ashgabat and Turkmenistan. You can even get them in English! They also have postcards and posters, and if you're lucky they might even have a copy of the Ruhnama, the book written by Turkmenbashy.
- Spend the night at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
Day 2Wed Oct 28
Nisa, Turkmenbashy Mosque, Ashgabat
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Today we'll start by driving to the outskirts of Ashgabat. On our way we'll pass the new, not-yet-finished "smart" city of Arkadag, which we can't visit but will be able to see as we drive past. We'll also pass the hippodrome, and of course several small monuments and statues.
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Our first stop today will be at Nisa, a UNESCO site which was once the capital of the Parthian Empire. We'll explore the ruins and learn about the different excavations that have been done, and hear the stories of this once spectacular and incredibly important city.
- We’ll then continue on to Kipchak to see the resplendent Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum, where Turkmenbashy is buried beside his mother, father and two brothers in their white marble mausoleum. There aren’t too many Turkmenbashy related sites still around, but this one is truly spectacular.
- We'll return to Ashgabat and have a bit of free time in the afternoon before heading out for dinner in the evening.
Day 3Thu Oct 29
Ashgabat, Gates of Hell
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This morning we will have free time, so you'll have a chance to organise yourself for the evening ahead. We'll be checking out of the hotel in Ashgabat, but you can leave luggage behind for the overnight.
- In the early afternoon, we'll set off on our desert adventure, driving the 250km north to Darvaza, The Gates of Hell.
- One the way we’ll make a few stops – including to see a salt lake, and two other craters (one full of mud, one full of water).
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Our favourite stop on this drive though is the town of Erbent, where you'll get a real up-close look at how rural Turkmens live - very different to what you've seen so far in Ashgabat and other regional cities and towns. We'll patronise the village shop, no doubt take some photos of some dust, possibly an old motorbike or two, maybe even a camel, and if we're lucky we might bump into some school kids. We will also of course use their toilet (not a luxurious one!) before continuing on our way.
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Crossing the sand dunes to get to Darvaza, we’ll arrive in time to watch the sunset over the fiery crater and experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
- We will either set up tents near the crater, or stay in one of the nearby yurt camps, depending on many factors, including weather. Either way though, we'll spend the evening viewing the fiery crater from every angle, seeing the colour change as the sun sets and the darkness creeps in, until the crater is in full glow. It's completely mesemerising.
Day 4Fri Oct 30
Gates of Hell, Ashgabat
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We'll wake up this morning at the Gates of Hell. What a place to wake up!
- Make sure you get your fill of fiery pits over breakfast, before we drive back to Ashgabat, arriving around lunchtime.
- We'll check into the hotel and have free time for the rest of the afternoon.
- Most people will probably want to head to one of our favourite bazaars in Central Asia – the Russian Bazaar. Here you'll have the opportunity to get some super cheap, local food for lunch, do some souvenir shopping, or if you’re in the market for a Turkmen carpet we can show you a good place to get them.
- This is also where one of the main shops for buying the famous Turkmenistan tracksuits is, so if you've made it to this point in the tour without one, and you're a bit jealous of your tracksuit-adorned fellow travellers, this is your chance to get one.
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You also might like just to go exploring, whether it's a walk to the psychadelic Ashgabat Mall, or to Tashkent Park, or to the alabay (dog) statue, or you could simply walk through one of the areas of new white marble buildings. And of course we'll be there to help you figure out what to do with your time.
- For dinner this evening we’ll go to the Yyldiz Hotel – the newest and most expensive hotel in Turkmenistan, where you can have a real 5 Star restaurant experience for 1 Star prices, complete with 360 degree views of the city.
Day 5Sat Oct 31
Kow Ata, Nokhur, Balkanabat
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Checking out of our hotel in Ashgabat, we'll begin heading west, with our first stop at an underground thermal cave lake which is said to have many medical attributes, but is also used by locals as a swimming hole and makes for a very fun and relaxing swim.
- After a refreshing swim in the cave lake, we'll sit down and chill for a while with some shashlik from one of the restaurants just outside the entrance to the cave.
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We’ll continue driving west, away from Ashgabat, to the village of Nokhur, situated in the Kopet Dag mountains. Unlike the rest of Turkmenistan, even during the Soviet Union and the era of Turkmenbashy, the people in this village were largely left to their own devices, and as such live a much more traditional lifestyle than most Turkmens.
- Here we’ll visit Nokhur Cemetery, where each grave is adorned with the horns of a mountain goat and a small market next to a wishing tree where you can buy all sorts of natural teas and potions.
- Back on the road in the afternoon, we'll keep heading west until we arrive in Balkanabat, the capital of the western Balkan region.
- On arrival we'll check into one of our favourite hotels in Turkmenistan, which is in the shape of a giant yurt, and will walk across the road to check out the local Turkmenbashy statue.
Day 6Sun Nov 1
Yangykala Canyon, Turkmenbashy
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Before leaving Balkanabat in the morning, we'll make a quick stop at a supermarket to stock up on snacks and drinks for the day, as we'll spend the whole of today in the desert with nothing in the way of civilisation until the evening.
- We'll also stop at the Caravan Monument - a sand coloured depiction of a camel and travelers making their way through the harsh desert.
- Leaving Balkanabat, we'll venture off the main road for the highlight of today - Yangykala Canyon. Wide and vast, the area was once a seabed, and scattered with all sorts of fossils, it stretches as far as the eye can see. In 4x4s, we’ll drive over the canyon walls, through the canyon itself, and up the other side.
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We'll make several stops along the way, including our favourite, the crocodile mouth. This will be our main stop for the day, and we'll spend plenty of time there
so we can enjoy all the shapes and colours of this spectacular natural phenomenon.
- In the afternoon we'll continue on our way, arriving in Turkmnbashy in the late afternoon.
- We'll have some free time before dinner, during which you can use the hotel gym, pool and sauna facilities, have a beer in the bar, or we may take a walk down to the former shoreline of the receding Caspian Sea.
- Overnight in Turkmenbashy.
- Previously we have included Avaza in this part of our tour itineraries, however it is currently closed to foreigners, as of April 2023. We are working on the assumption that it will not be open before the time of this tour, however if it was, we would rearrange the itinerary in such a way that we'd be able to include a visit there.
Day 7Mon Nov 2
Turkmenbashy, Ashgabat
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This morning we will make our way to Turkmenbashy Airport, which has the airport code KRW, in reference to the Soviet name of the city, which was Krasnovodsk.
- We'll fly back to Ashgabat on Turkmenistan's national carrier and the only option for domestic flights, Turkmenistan Airlines.
- Arriving back in Ashgabat you'll have a chance to have some free time, during which you might want to shop for a tracksuit or a carpet, sit down for a coffee or a beer, go for a stroll, or just have a rest.
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In the afternoon we'll hop on a public bus and explore Ashgabat from a slightly different perspective. This is a great way to interact with locals, and get a first-hand view of how normal Ashgabatians live on a daily basis.
- Using the bus, we'll make our way to Berkarar Shopping Centre, going through the new part of the city, past the Presidential Palace, the Ashgabat Monument, and the 2017 Olympic Complex. We'll then have a chance to explore this incredibly Turkmenistan-style shopping centre, where you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a hipster café – bet you weren’t expecting that!
- We'll catch the bus back to our hotel, before heading out for dinner in the evening.
- Overnight at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
Day 8Tue Nov 3
Ashgabat, Islamabad
- Today we will spend part of the day in Ashgabat and then begin travelling towards Islamabad for the Pakistan section of this tour. You will need to book your own flights, but we will advise you on the relevant options and what other people are doing.
Day 9Wed Nov 4
Ashgabat, Islamabad
- Today we will arrive in Islamabad.
- Overnight in Islamabad.
Day 10Thu Nov 5
Islamabad
- We begin the day by heading to the Afghan Embassy to sort out our visas for the second part of our journey. This is a great way to get your visa for those joining our Afghanistan Tour following on directly from this one – Islamabad is one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest places to get the Afghan visa. So what a great opportunity to get the visa and also see some of Pakistan whilst doing it!
- Once the paperwork is all done we will head out for sightseeing in Islamabad.
- We’ll start with the Faisal Mosque which is the 5 th largest mosque in the world and the largest mosque in South Asia. More than that though, it’s also an incredibly funky and unusual design. Built in the 1970s with money donated by the Saudi royal family (hence being named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia), it’s a Brutalist-type concrete structure, artistically representing a traditional Bedouin tent.
- In the afternoon we will head to Ancient Taxila which lies about 25 kilometres north of the capital. This site showcases ruins that date back 3000 years and is one of the premier archaeological sites of Pakistan.
- In the evening we will be back in Islamabad for dinner and free time.
- Overnight in Islamabad.
Day 11Fri Nov 6
Islamabad, Lahore
- This morning we'll set off from Islamabad and drive towards Lahore, arriving in the early evening.
- Along the way we will also visit the Khewra Salt Mine which is the 2nd largest in the world.
- Once we arrive in Lahore, We can head out to explore this amazing city as the sun sets with the chance to have dinner at a restaurant that overlooks the amazing Lahore Fort.
- Overnight in Lahore.
Day 12Sat Nov 7
Lahore, Wagah Border, Lahore
- We will have a full day of sightseeing in Lahore today where we will see the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Sheesh Mahal, Wazeer Khan Mosque and the tomb of Emperor Jahangir and get to know the Mogul history of Lahore.
- In the afternoon we will head to the Wagah border crossing to see the display between the border guards of India and Pakistan. This is one of the only places along the border where Pakistani and Indian soldiers interact with each other and it’s truly a magical experience.
- We will return to Lahore for dinner.
- Overnight in Lahore.
Day 13Sun Nov 8
Lahore, Islamabad
- Today we'll head back to Islamabad, stopping at a few places along the way.
- Arriving in Islamabad in the afternoon we'll continue to check out the city.
- Overnight in Islamabad.
Day 14Mon Nov 9
Islamabad, Peshawar
- Today we will drive to Peshawar.
- Overnight in Peshawar.
Day 16Wed Nov 11
Peshawar, Khyber Pass, Kabul
- Departing Peshawar in the morning, you'll make your way across the historic Khyber Pass, famous for its dramatic landscapes and historical and political significance. This ancient trade route, once traversed by Alexander the Great and Silk Road caravans, offers stunning views of rugged mountains and deep valleys.
- At Torkham, explore the bustling border crossing, a vibrant hub of commerce and culture. Witness the daily life of traders and travelers before crossing into Afghanistan.
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Due to safety considerations we choose not to publicise our exact itineraries for Afghanistan. If you are interested in joining us please get in touch and we will gladly send you the details.
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This is a particularly unpredictable border crossing and it is sometimes closed. If we are unable to cross the land border we will make alternate plans, which could incur extra costs.
Day 17Thu Nov 12
Afghanistan
- Due to safety considerations we choose not to publicise our exact itinerary.
- If you are interested in joining us please get in touch and we will gladly send you the details.
Extensions
Horse Farm Day Trip
Turkmenistan is known for their unique Akhal Teke horses, this is your opportunity to experience them up close and even take a ride if you fancy.
Cross the land border at Dashoguz or Konye Urgench
Planning on joining a Turkmenistan tour, but you're already going to be in Uzbekistan and you'd rather cross at a land border? Well, that's what this is for!
Merv Day Trip
For those history buffs who want to see a bit more of the ancient stuff whilst in Turkmenistan.
Kandahar Extension
Experience the home of the Taliban, with a jaunt down to this part of the country that until very recently was extremely dangerous to visit.
Kandahar and Ghazni Extension
A road trip through this lesser-visited part of Afghanistan, taking in two of the most notorious cities in Afghanistan.
Other Tours
Turkmenistan Autumn Budget Tour
A snapshot of Turkmenistan's highlights, complete with an overnight trip to the Gates of Hell.
Turkmenistan Autumn Tour
A canyon, a crater, loads of white marble and a bit of desert.
Pakistan November Autumn Tour
From the beauty and magic of mountainous Peshawar, to the craziness of the Wagah border crossing.
Pakistan and Afghanistan Khyber Pass Adventure Tour
Up the Khyber! That's what we're doing on this tour. Crossing the notorious Khyber Pass, and entering Afghanistan at the Torkham border this trip has bucket list written all over it.